The Male Gaze

These photograps show the model Eva Mendes, Modelling underwear for 'Calvin Klein'. I think both of the photographs show that Eva is in charge of her sexuality and also show she is a powerful woman eithier in genreal or when dressed in the underwear she is modelling. I get the impression that she is powerful from the photograph on the right where she has her hands on her hips. Again the photographs have been taken from a low angle to show how in control she is. In both images Eva has her legs open that shows a seductive/inviting side to the advert, also Eva has her head tilted back to show that she's enjoying people looking at her. In both images she has taken on an inviting pose to entice people to take a closer look/buy the magazine. Eva has a sheen over her body/ has been oiled up that makes us as the audience think that maybe it's sweat from sexual exertion, she may have just had sex or both the images maybe post orgasmic. That also links back to being seductive. In the advert Eva is wearing a bra, pants, stockings and a pair of high heels; This gives the audience the impression of (strip clubs, porn, or personal fantasy). There is a kind of mysterious look about Eva and the poses she is striking, she's not looking straight at the camera this shows that she's not intentionally out to intimadate the other women looking at this advert. These images are used in female oriented magazines to make the women envy the way she looks therefore going to buy/invest in the product that she is selling. 

 In this avertisment 'Freddie Ljungberg' has complete focus in the whole photograph. A mid-shot has been used to his advantage to show/ enhance his torso and arms. Unlike the other images of Eva he is looking straight in to the camera which creates a sence of being fierce and the facial expression is intence. His body language is very casual but the stance that he is in is strong and at the same time still inviting to the women that are looking at the advert.Or men that are longing to look like the model. The right hand is clenched in a fist, the fist symbolises strenght/ aggression and power. However the hand is slightly pulling his shorts down this shows to the audience a sexual image, and also shows us that he has been waxed. Therefore despite the manly exterior he has a feminine/ mertosexual side. The female links are also shown to the audience from the necklace he is wearing and the use of the pout. Freddie has a shaven head this shows that he has nothing to hide/ hide behind. The tattoo of the animal on his torso hasn't been Photoshoped away, this has been deliberately done to make the female viewers think that maybe he's wild also. His left arm is raised and he's holding on the a long black pole. The use of the pole has again been deliberately used as a phallic symbol. The pole shows how manly he is supposedly meant to be. And is directly linked to the penis. Finally the use of the red background is used to symbolise love/ danger/ and passion. It also draws attention to the 'Calvin Klein' logo across his chest area and also the sheen he has over his body. Again this give the audience the impression that, he's been working out/ he's post orgasmic. The background also makes the model seem a darker skin colour which is fashionably attractive to the female audience.